ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the basic characteristics of soil, the contaminant fate and transport characteristics in soil, and processes and approaches to remove or otherwise render harmless contaminants in soils. The study of fluid motion in a porous medium will start with a discussion of the soil grains that make up the medium, the pore spaces formed by the space between these grains, and the permeability and wettability of the medium that results. The chapter also examines both removal and nonremoval options for soil remediation. Incineration of solid wastes and contaminated soils are very affective means of destroying organic wastes. Isolating contaminated soil and wastes in a landfill is the oldest means of reducing exposure. Unfortunately, an insecure landfill simply moves the problem and does not reduce the volume or toxicity of the contaminated material. Prior to landfilling solid wastes or soil in a landfill, solidification/stabilization processes are often used to further guard against contaminant release.
